The 'Alien' trilogy: No, There Isn't a Fourth One. Shut Up. Stop Lying.

Ahem. I should probably explain myself for that title, but I don’t really think I have to as my point is THAT valid. The trilogy seemed so final and complete that it didn't seem necessary to rehash an awful premise for the fourth film. Given I like seeing Winona Ryder getting shot as much as the next guy; but I digress, it was needless and unnecessary (The film, not the shooting).  It was safe to say it didn't keep up with the incredibly high standards of the other films, despite a very impressive scene including Sigourney Weaver and a basketball, it didn't stop the sense of "Why? Just why was this made in the first place?” I do hope that she got a few Nike sponsorship deals out of it but still the film sucked like the Alien out of the door in the first film.  

Alien was released in 1979 and is still considered a masterpiece of the science fiction-horror genre. With the tagline of “no-one hearing you scream” driving the marketing campaign the film was a monster success (no pun intended). My father always tells me it’s the first film he saw that made him get sick, thanks, really. The film is famous for many reasons, the twists and turns, the horrific imagery, the emergence of Ellen Ripley as one of the major female heroines of the 20^th Century. But on top of all that I just think that the complex and simply amazing direction of Ridley Scott that makes this film, in my opinion, the best horror film ever made. The tension in the scenes following THAT scene with John Hurt is still hard to watch, and when the big reveal ‘reveals’ itself it’s almost like being punched in the stomach. It’s that intense. With the tension and occasional outbursts of violence it was a nerve-shredding, brilliant film that still beats many of the new wave of horror films being released these days.

Alien was primarily a success due to Ridley Scott and his style of direction (in my opinion I guess, but we all know it's true), so you can imagine someone wondering how the sequel would pan out and whether or not it would be as successful as its predecessor. I can imagine the producer just thinking "fuck it, let’s drop some Cameron on it". Not surprisingly, it worked. James Cameron, when he does it right, can make a shit story into a great story just by blowing shit up. A bit like a classy Michael Bay. Narrative, what narrative? Aliens for all intents and purposes is a master-class in how use most of your budget on pyrotechnics. In fairness, there is a sub-plot with Ripley and her trying to come to terms with her life after the first film, but it’s so transparent and almost an afterthought once the shooting and explosions kick in. There are so many moments in this film where you feel there could be room for thought, a breather, but there is no room for it. In the previous film, no matter how horrific the scene before it, Ridley Scott would always put it in check by almost numbing it with a quiet one afterwards. For example, when John Hurt gets attacked by one of the “specimens”, there is a long silence between that scene and the following one with it almost giving the audience a chance to acknowledge what just transpired on screen.

In Aliens, there is no let up between each jump scare or action set piece, Cameron almost pummels you into submission, the chase at the end almost defies belief, that’s how long it lasts, and even after that the film isn’t over by a considerable margin. The character of Hicks is a welcome addition to the franchise as he and his team of specialised recruits add some ‘machismo’ to the proceedings, as if Ripley wasn’t enough. Michael Biehn famously starred in another Cameron film ‘Terminator’ and plays a similar character here, the leader of the resistance, and he is another high point of this film. Occasionally, the acting in such films is over the top and hammy, but in this film it is most welcome, it almost fits it perfectly.  Particularly whenever Bill Paxton is nearby, the dialogue changes from gruff manly talk to girly whimpering, but that’s part of the charm I suppose. Also, an under-rated performance from Carrie Henn who plays ‘Newt’ in the film, a child who becomes stranded and is found by Ripley and the gang of gun wielding troops. She is the emotional core of the story, and despite not being a household name completely holds her own with the likes of Sigourney Weaver as well the other cast-members and therefore deserves more recognition.                                                                                    

The third film in the Alien franchise is well documented as having a troubled production, and the somewhat left-field choice of director in David Fincher certainly established this as being a film with a somewhat uncertain future. The film seemed to try to find the balance between the previous two films by conveying the sense of dread and despair from the first, whilst simultaneously bringing in the action element from the second it seemed to be a good way to end the franchise. Ellen Ripley, again is the main character and is stranded on a colonised planet of men, and struggles to come to terms with this new change to her life. This revelation messed me up, as I naturally assumed she would finally be at peace after the first two films, but of course in movie land, the happiness of your favourite characters is never fully guaranteed.  The revelations pile on in this film, I won’t reveal what they are, but there is nothing left uncovered in this film. I felt it was a very daring thing to do for an established franchise to put in twists such as the ones in this film. The payoff to these revelations is huge as well, with the ending bringing the trilogy almost full circle in an emotionally satisfying way. The acting is top class all round, with Sigourney Weaver again leading the film perfectly, but the surprising thing is that all the bit part players are just as convincing in their roles however minor they be.

A common theme running through the film is the resistance against authority, when Ellen Ripley first deduces that the Alien is there, she warns her superiors but is told pretty much word for word that she is crazy and is immediately locked up. Of course that doesn’t last long as the film would be quite a bore-fest, but it goes back to those quiet moments in the original where the story plays along fantastically before the necessary gore and blood starts to shower the screen later on. Far from a classic, but definitely not to be booted into the same category as the truly awful Alien: Resurrection. Ironic to call it Resurrection when that’s exactly what the people involved in that film need for their careers now. Yeah, I bloody went there.

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